The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-19
MARRIED SIX TIMES.
The Remarkable Series of Vicissitudes Passed
Through by Josephine Tabor

PALMYRA. n. Y, Nov IS.-The recent death
of Mrs. Josephine Baxter, at her home in Tru-
mansburg, recalls to those who knew her the re-
markable series of vicssitudes through which
she passed during her eventful life. Her mar
ried life was an extraordinary one, and in detail
reads more like fiction than a story of real life
She was six times bride and five times widow.
Born in Canandaigua IN August, 1888, her
maiden name was Josephine Tabor. As q
child she was the acknowledged beauty of the
neighborhood, and everybody who remembers
her a young lady recalls her particularly vi
vacious and delightful manners In 1850. when
she was eighteen years OF age, she was sent to
the Palmyra Academy. From the date of her
arrival she the conceded belle of the acad-
| envy. Her affections set upon impe-
cuious but smart, young teacher in the acad-
envy, named Odel, and one night In December.
1857. she eloped with him. Her father and
mother had repeatedly begged her to
discard odel an and when. when the ma an
they were wild with grief Josephine
returned to Canandaigua two weeks later and
stopped at hotel there, begged for a recon
Citation with her parents, who remained ob
durate, and she went TO Toledo to struggle for a
living with her husband. He became a teacher
in a night school and took ends and odds, and
his wife compelled to do sewing. In July.
1858, Odell died of quick consumption, leaving
the widow dependent on her own labor She
was too proud to return to her home and ask
for help from her parents. but maintained her
self by her needle unit. February, 1860, when
she married Clarence Cushman, wealthy
bachelor pork-packer at Cincinnati. She was
then twenty-five and Notwithstanding her hard
toll for living was as handsome ever. She
lived in quiet style and no couple were ever
more devoted TO one another: Two children
were born to them, but both died In infancy.
Mr.. and Mrs Cushman went to Europe in 1862
in Rome the husband caught the Roman fever
of which he suddenly died. The young woman,
Aov, ot1lrv m Hvd
tina: her husband had been insolvent for several
weeks previous his death. She was LEFT
with only a few thousand dollars. For
year or two she was a governess in the
house OF a London banker. and then, losing all
of her money in unfortunate speculation, she
returned to America. For two years she was a
saleswoman in New York dry goods store. In
June, 1866. she was married at Nyack n. Y, to
Lieut.. Oscar Williams, of the United States
army, and went with him to Fort Sully, d. L.
They lived happily together, and Mrs. Williams
became a favorite at the fort In August. 1887,
her husband was drowned. ana she became for
the third time widow. Her father, who had
heard of his only daughters misfortune, begged
her to return to her home and be forgiven. but
she would not go. For two years she was gov
in the family of a Louisville merchant.
She married Rev. Edward Lukes at Covington,
KY, IN 1869. Her husband sent little
later Presbyterian missionary to India and
she accom- panied him. They made their home
successfully in India, Hong Kong and Honolu-
lu, in each of which places Mrs. Lukes was we'll
known for her devotion to her husband. who
was a consumptive. Mr.. Lukes died in the
Sandwich Islands in 1874, and his widow made
her way back to America with her
husbands body. For a year she made her
home with her brother, this place,
then removed to Philadelphia. where she entered
private hospital nurse. Among the patients
whom she ministered was Graham P. Esty,
sugar and fnoasses merchant at New Orleans.
He fell desperately in love with her. and after
months of very warm courtship married her in
March, 1878. Their happy home in New Orleans
was broken up by her husbands failure the next
year and his suicide because of his financial
losses.
Left widow the fifth time and broken down
in health and spirits. Mrs. Esty returned to her
brothers home few weeks after her husbands
death. For several months she was very i'll,
and convalescing when her father died of
old age. Until 1881 she lived with her brother
and about that time became acquainted with
wealthy and retired gold miner named Albert
Baxter. They were married at Palmyra in 1882.
The couple spent q year CT more in travelling IN
Europe and Egypt and during the past year
Mr. Baxter has been engaged in building mag
nificent mansion for their occupancy near Itha-
ca. 1t their intention to spend their re-
naming days there. and Mrs. Baxter. who had
known many disappointments and bereave-
ments looked forward with pleasure to their
bright prospects, But in ali this there was still
another disappointment for her. She was at
tackled about two months ago. when about to re-
move to her mansion, by fatal disease. She
died last Friday.